The outcome of auditory training on the development of listening, speech, and language abilities in children with hearing impairment using cochlear implants: A longitudinal study
Chandni Jain, Shivaswamy Jyothi, Bhagyashree Ishwar Hegde, Chandran Yamini, Neelamegarajan DeviAbstract
Purpose:
This study aimed to examine longitudinal changes in listening, speech, and language development in children with cochlear implants (CIs) enrolled under a government-funded scheme in India who received auditory training based on auditory verbal therapy (AVT) and explored the relationship between listening age (LA) and language development.
Materials and Methods:
A single-group longitudinal repeated-measures study was conducted with 50 children aged 2.8–6.11 years (mean = 4.99 ± 1.23 years) who had bilateral severe-to-profound hearing loss and no comorbidities. All participants received CIs under a government-funded scheme and underwent AVT-based auditory training comprising three 45-min sessions per week for 1 year. Auditory performance was assessed quarterly using the Listening Age (LA) Checklist, Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS), and closed- and open-set Speech Identification Scores (SIS). Speech and language outcomes were evaluated using the Assessment Checklist for Speech-Language Skills (ACSLS).
Results:
Significant improvements were observed across all four quarters in LA, MAIS scores, receptive language age (RLA), and expressive language age (ELA). Closed-set SIS showed a steady increase from Quarter 1 to Quarter 4. Strong positive correlations were found between LA and both receptive and expressive language ages in Quarters 3 and 4.
Conclusions:
AVT-based auditory training effectively enhances listening, speech, and language outcomes in pediatric CI users. The findings highlight the importance of sustained, government-supported rehabilitation programs for improving communication outcomes in resource-limited settings.